Arch support and heel protector

ABSTRACT

A combined heel protector and arch support, comprising: a first layered arch support having a plurality of male attachment means on one of its surfaces; a second layered arch support, similar in dimension to said first arch support, having a plurality of female attachment means on one of its surfaces, in which the female means are complementary to said male means and are snapped thereon in order to form a two-tiered arch support in which said first and second supports are supported by a slight transverse displacement which is defined by the physical closeness of the mate between said male and female attachment means; and a padded heel protector adapted to enclose said first and second supports about every surface of the supports except the surface of the first support which faces the heel of a shoe wearer, whereby the above combination may be easily inserted into the housing of a conventional shoe for the obtainment of added comfort and arch support by the wearer.

United States Patent [1 1 Huff [451 Jan. 21, 1975 1 1 ARCH SUPPORT AND HEEL PROTECTOR [76] Inventor: Basil D. Huff, 94 Ferry Rd, Breslau,

Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18702 [22] Filed: Feb. 1, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 438,850

[52] U.S. Cl. 128/622, 128/581, 36/72 B [51] Int. Cl. A6lf 5/14 [58] Field of Search 128/622,61 1, 610, 607,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,459,015 6/1923 Crossman 128/622 1,585,856 5/1926 Headley 36/72 B 1,696,786 12/1928 Wood 128/622 X 1,708,964 4/1929 Boomer 36/72 B 2,523,449 9/1950 Rosenzweig 128/581 2,977,692 4/1961 Benesch 128/581 Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner l Yasko Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mel K. Silver-man, Esq.

57 ABSTRACT A combined heel protector and arch support, comprising: a first layered arch support having a plurality of male attachment means on one of its surfaces; a second layered arch support, similar in dimension to said first arch support, having a plurality of female attachment means on one of its surfaces, in which the female means are complementary to said male means and are snapped thereon in order to form a two-tiered arch support in which said first and second supports are supported by a slight transverse displacement which is defined by the physical closeness of the mate between said male and female attachment means; and a padded heel protector adapted to enclose said first and second supports about every surface of the supports except the surface of the first support which faces the heel of a shoe wearer, whereby the above combination may be easily inserted into the housing of a conventional shoe for the obtainment of added comfort and arch support by the wearer.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ARCH SUPPORT AND HEEL PROTECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in built-in arch supports and heel protectors for mens and womens shoes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a combined heel protector and arch support which will provide a particular degree of comfort to a shoe wearer while providing a much needed support for the wearers arches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side cross-sectional elevational view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the heel protector component of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front fold-out view of the heel protector taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first and second layers of the arch support.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the arch supports taken along line 66 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Shown in FIG. 4 is a first layered arch support 10 and a second layered arch support 12 which is similar in dimension to said first support.

A cross-sectional view of said arch supports 10 and 12, when they are snap-fittably secured together, is shown in FIG. 6. In said figure, it is seen that a male attachment means 14 depends from the arch support 10, while a complementary female attachment means 16 is integrally formed within a surface 17 of the second arch 12. It is to be noted that, as is indicated in FIG. 4, a plurality of the male attachment means 14 and of the complementary female attachment means 16 are disposed within the respective opposing surfaces 17 and 17 of said arch supports 12 and 10.

It is to be further noted that said first and second supports 10 and 12 are, even after elements 14 and 16 have been snapped into place, separated by a slight transverse displacement 18 which is defined by the degree of the physical closeness of the mate between said male and female attachment means 14 and 16.

Shown in FIG. 2 is a padded heel protector 20 which is adapted to enclose said first and second arch supports 10 and 12 about every surface of said supports except the surface 22 of said first support 10 which faces the heel of the user. I

Shown in FIG. 3 is a frontal view of the padded heel protector 20 as it would appear in an unfolded condition. Also, the view of FIG. 3 illustrates the heel protector in a f1attened out position, without its two feet 24 and 26 sewn together as they are in FIG. 2. Circular holes (for snaps) 28 and 30 of FIG. 3 also appear in FIG. 2, however in different respective positions.

Also included within the padded heel protector is a pair of oblong holes 32 and 34, through which a strap 36, having two ends 38 and 40, is inserted under said arch supports 10 and 12.

. 6 It IS also noted that, as shown In FIG. 5, said strap ends 38 and 40 are criss-cross about an open frontal area 41 of the heel protector, and are secured to opposite ends of the outer surfaces of said protector 20, thereby forming a compact, self-contained combined heel protector and arch support.

It is noted that. as shown in FIG. 3, said heel protector 20 further comprises additional padding 42 which is integrally formed within that area of said protector 20 which will, when placed within a shoe housing 44 (see FIG. I) abut the inner sole 46 of said housing. thereby providing extra comfort for the shoe wearer. It may be seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 that said additional padding exhibits, when viewed in transverse crosssection, an undulating pattern along it contact surface with said inner sole 46 of said shoe housing 44. Such an undulating pattern of padding will provide for maximum comfort of the wearer.

The entire combination of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. Said combination is further shown, in FIG. 1, fully inserted into a mans shoe, in a condition suitable for usage.

It is further noted that the present combination may comprise a third layered arch support, snap-fittably se curable to said second support in analogous fashion to the securement to said first support to said second support.

Accordingly, it is seen that the object stated in the Summary of the Invention has been efficiently obtained by the above-described embodiments of the present invention. While there have been herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically illustrated or described and that within said embodiments certain changes in the details and composition, and the form and arrangement of the parts, may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention, within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, useful and non-obvious and, accordingly, secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

I. A combined heel protector and arch support, comprising:

a. a first layered arch support having a plurality of male attachment means on one of its surfaces;

b. a second layered arch support, similar in dimension to said first arch support, having a plurality of female attachment means on one of its surfaces, in which said female means are complementary to said male means and are snapped thereon in order to form a two-tiered arch support in which said first and second supports are separated by a slight transverse displacement which is defined by the physical closeness of the mate between said male and female attachment means; and

c. a padded heel protector enclosing enclose said first and second supports about every surface of said supports except the surface of said first support which faces the heel of the user, and including means on said heel protector for holding said supports in engagement with said heel protector whereby the above-defined combination may be easily inserted into the housing of a conventional shoe for the attainment of added comfort and arch support.

2. The combination as recited in claim I in which said padded heel protector includes: a pair of oblong holes, and a strap having two ends adapted for insertion through said holes and under said arch supports, in

which will, when placed within a shoe housing, abut the inner sole of said housing. and provide extra comfort for the shoe wearer.

4. The combination as recited in claim 3 in which said additional padding has, when viewed in transverse cross-section, an undulating pattern along its contact surface with said inner sole of said shoe housing. 

1. A combined heel protector and arch support, comprising: a. a first layered arch support having a plurality of male attachment means on one of its surfaces; b. a second layered arch support, similar in dimension to said first arch support, having a plurality of female attachment means on one of its surfaces, in which said female means are complementary to said male means and are snapped thereon in order to form a two-tiered arch support in which said first and second supports are separated by a slight transverse displacement which is defined by the physical closeness of the mate between said male and female attachment means; and c. a padded heel protector enclosing enclose said first and second supports about every surface of said supports except the surface of said first support which faces the heel of the user, and including means on said heel protector for holding said supports in engagement with said heel protector whereby the above-defined combination may be easily inserted into the housing of a conventional shoe for the attainment of added comfort and arch support.
 2. The combination as recited in claim 1 in which said padded heel protector includes: a pair of oblong holes, and a strap having two ends adapted for insertion through said holes and under said arch supports, in which said strap ends are criss-crossed about an open frontal area of the heel protector and in which said ends are secured to opposite outer surfaces of said protector, thereby forming a compact, self-contained heel protector and arch support.
 3. The combination as recited in claim 2 in which said heel protector further comprises additional padding integrally formed within that area of said protector which will, when placed within a shoe housing, abut the inner sole of said housing, and provide extra comfort for the shoe wearer.
 4. The combination as recited in claim 3 in which said additional padding has, when viewed in transverse cross-section, an undulating pattern along its contact surface with said inner sole of said shoe housing. 